US9822367B2 - Inhibition of SEMA3A in the prevention and treatment of ocular hyperpermeability - Google Patents

Inhibition of SEMA3A in the prevention and treatment of ocular hyperpermeability Download PDF

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US9822367B2
US9822367B2 US14/769,255 US201414769255A US9822367B2 US 9822367 B2 US9822367 B2 US 9822367B2 US 201414769255 A US201414769255 A US 201414769255A US 9822367 B2 US9822367 B2 US 9822367B2
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sema3a
nrp
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Przemyslaw Sapieha
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Definitions

  • the present invention relates to ocular vascular hyperpermeability. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with the inhibition of the SEMA3A pathway for the prevention or treatment of macular edema.
  • Diabetic retinopathy is the most prominent complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness in working age individuals 1,2 . It is characterized by an initial microvascular degeneration followed by a compensatory but pathological hyper-vascularization mounted by the hypoxic retina in an attempt to reinstate metabolic equilibrium 3-5 . Although often initially asymptomatic, loss of sight is provoked primarily by diabetic macular edema (DME), vitreal hemorrhages and in advanced cases, pre-retinal neovascularization and tractional retinal detachment 6,7 . Of these, DME is the main cause of central vision loss in diabetics 8 , affecting over 25% of patients suffering from diabetes.
  • DME diabetic macular edema
  • BBB blood-retinal barrier
  • NPR non-proliferative retinopathy
  • macular edema retinopathy
  • proliferative diabetic retinopathy There are generally 3 stages to diabetic retinopathy: i) non-proliferative retinopathy (NPR); ii) macular edema; and iii) proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
  • NPR non-proliferative retinopathy
  • macular edema macular edema
  • proliferative diabetic retinopathy proliferative diabetic retinopathy
  • the second stage of diabetic retinopathy is macular edema.
  • the macula is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, direct vision due to its high density in cones photoreceptors. It is situated at the back of the retina.
  • Macular edema refers to the accumulation of fluid within the retina at the macular area (distinct from the condition where the fluid accumulates under the retina).
  • the pathophysiology depends on the primary cause but usually, the end-point is vascular instability and a breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, leading to visual impairment.
  • This middle stage of diabetic retinopathy may overlap the other stages. This is the stage where the blood-retinal barrier is compromised and capillaries in the retina begin to leak fluid, causing swelling and blurred vision.
  • Focal macular edema occurs when the retinal capillaries develop micro-aneurisms which leak fluid, resulting in several distinct points of leakage.
  • Diffuse macular edema is caused by the dilation of retinal capillaries, creating leakage that is diffused over a general area.
  • the type of macular edema present will determine the kind of diabetic retinopathy treatment. Early detection of macular edema helps ensure the most effective treatment.
  • diabetic retinopathy is sometimes linked to macular edema, which is the swelling of the part of the eye that controls central vision, known as the macula.
  • PDR proliferative diabetic retinopathy
  • the new blood vessels that form as a result of proliferative diabetic retinopathy cause more damage to the eye. These capillaries are unable to restore nutrients to the retina because they are fragile and weak. They also tend to burst, causing blood and fluid to leak into the eye. The new vessels also exert traction on the surrounding structures and connective tissue, which can eventually detach the retina. Intraocular pressure can also increase as a result of the new capillaries, as they can block the ducts where fluid is drained from the eye. This condition is known as neovascular glaucoma. During proliferative diabetic retinopathy, scar tissue development, retinal detachment, and blindness can occur.
  • retinal detachment and blindness can result.
  • PDR is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in the United States.
  • Retinal detachment, macular edema, and the breakdown of capillaries in the retina can all prevent normal blood flow through the eye and lead to total vision loss.
  • Macular edema is not limited to the context of diabetes. Hyperpermeability of blood vessels and leakage of the blood-retinal barrier can occur in a number of circumstances. The most frequent form of macular edema is cystoid macular edema, which is characterized by intraretinal edema contained in honeycomb-like spaces.
  • CME is a common pathological response to a variety of insults (e.g., following intraocular (cataract) surgery, in central and branch retinal vein occlusions, following injury to the eye, in association with choroidal tumors or in various types of vascular retinal diseases or retinal dystrophies). CME is also one of the many conditions that may arise from age-related macular degeneration.
  • panretinal photocoagulation for either proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or grid/focal laser for DME.
  • PDR proliferative diabetic retinopathy
  • grid/focal laser for DME laser-based photocoagulation approaches destroy hypoxic retinal tissue secreting pro-angiogenic factors and inadvertently lead to reduced visual field or central or paracentral scotomas.
  • Applicant has identified a novel therapeutic target, Sema3A, for the prevention and treatment of retinal vascular hyperpermeability related retinopathy including non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
  • Sema3A is a classical neuronal guidance cue also involved in a variety of cellular responses through its binding to Neuropilin-1 (Nrp-1), a non-tyrosine kinase multifunctional receptor.
  • Neuropilin-1 has the particular ability to bind two structurally dissimilar ligands via distinct sites on its extracellular domain 15-17 . It binds Sema3A 18,19 provoking cytoskeletal collapse and VEGF 165 16,17,19,20 enhancing binding to VEGFR2 and thus increasing its angiogenic potential 21 . Crystallographic evidence revealed that VEGF 165 and Sema3A do not directly compete for Nrp-1 but rather can simultaneously bind to Nrp-1 at distinct, non-overlapping sites 22 .
  • Nrp-1 distinctly regulates the effects of VEGF and Sema3A on neuronal and vascular development 23 .
  • Sema3A may itself promote vascular permeability (Acevedo et al., 2008); this is a counterintuitive observation, given the divergent biological roles of VEGF and Sema3A.
  • the role of Sema3A in mediating the breakdown of barrier function, such as that observed in diabetic retinopathy has not been explored to date.
  • Applicant show herein for the first time that Sema3A is involved in the deterioration of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) function in diabetic retinopathy. Applicant demonstrates in both human patients and animal models that ocular Sema3A is robustly induced in the early stages of diabetes (prior to VEGF inducement). Applicant further shows that SEMA3A mediates, via NRP1, the breakdown of the inner BRB, leading to increased vascular permeability thereby contributing to retinal swelling and macular edema.
  • BRB blood-retinal barrier
  • SEMA3A provides a good target for the prevention of symptoms associated with macular edema or for early treatment of the disease (e.g., in the non-proliferative stage of diabetic retinopathy), prior to substantial pathological neovascularization and damages to the retina.
  • Neutralizing Sema3A thus represents an attractive alternative therapeutic strategy to counter pathologic vascular permeability in DR.
  • the present invention provides a method of preventing or treating macular edema in a subject comprising inhibiting Sema3A-mediated cellular activity.
  • the present invention provides a method of preventing or treating non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in a subject comprising inhibiting Sema3A-mediated cellular activity.
  • the present invention provides a method of preventing or treating retinal swelling in a subject comprising inhibiting Sema3A-mediated cellular activity.
  • the Sema3A-mediated cellular activity comprises Sema3A-mediated vascular permeability. In a related embodiment, the Sema3A-mediated activity comprises Sema3A binding to the Nrp-1 receptor.
  • the macular edema is substantially non-proliferative macular edema.
  • the macular edema is diabetic macular edema.
  • the diabetic macular edema is substantially non-proliferative (i.e., neovascularization is substantially low or absent).
  • the macular edema is age-related macular edema.
  • the age related macular edema is substantially non-proliferative.
  • the methods of the present invention comprise administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a Sema3A antagonist to the subject.
  • the antagonist reduces Sema3A nucleic acid or protein expression.
  • the Sema3A antagonist reduces Sema3A secretion.
  • the Sema3A antagonist reduces Sema3A vitreal concentration.
  • the Sema3A antagonist reduces Npr-1 ocular (e.g., vitreal) concentration and/or activity.
  • the Sema3A antagonist inhibits Sema3A-mediated cell signaling.
  • the Sema3A-mediated cell signaling comprises binding of Sema3A to its cognate receptor Npr-1.
  • the antagonist is an anti-Sema3A antibody.
  • the anti-Sema3A antibody specifically inhibits Sema3A binding to Nrp-1 but does not substantially reduce VEGF binding to Nrp-1.
  • the Sema3A antagonist is an Nrp-1 antibody that inhibits binding of Sema3A to the receptor.
  • the Nrp-1 antibody does not substantially reduce VEGF binding to Nrp-1.
  • the Nrp-1 antibody binds to the a1, a2 or a1/a2 domain of Nrp-1.
  • the Sema3A antagonist is a soluble Nrp-1 polypeptide or fragment thereof that binds to Sema3A.
  • the fragment comprises domain a1, a2 or a1 and a2 of Nrp-1.
  • the fragment does not comprise domains b1, b2 or IA and b2 of Npr-1.
  • the soluble Nrp-1 fragment does not substantially bind to VEGF.
  • the fragment comprises domains a1a2 and b1b2 or portions thereof and binds to Sema3A and VEGF.
  • the Sema3A antagonist reduces Sema3A or Npr-1 nucleic acid or protein expression.
  • the Sema3A antagonist is a Sema3A shRNA or antisense.
  • the Sema3A antagonist is a Npr-1 shRNA or antisense that binds to a polynucleotide encoding a Npr-1 polypeptide, preferably a human Npr-1 polypeptide (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 or 12).
  • the present invention concerns a composition for reducing retinal vascular hyperpermeability comprising one or more of the above-described Sema3A antagonist together with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.
  • the present invention concerns a composition for the prevention or treatment of vascular hyperpermeability, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, preferably, age related macular edema, more preferably non-proliferative age-related macular edema and even more preferably, non-proliferative diabetic macular edema comprising one or more of the above-described Sema3A antagonist together with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.
  • compositions of the present invention are suitable for intraocular administration.
  • the compositions are formulated in the form of eye drops.
  • the compositions are formulated for intraocular injection.
  • the composition comprises one or more additional active agent useful in the treatment of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema.
  • the present invention also concerns the use of a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of Sema3A antagonists of the present invention for reducing retinal vascular hyperpermeability in a subject.
  • the use is for the prevention or treatment of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
  • the use is for the prevention or treatment of macular edema.
  • the macular edema is diabetic macular edema.
  • the diabetic macular edema is substantially free of neovascularization (i.e., it is mainly non-proliferative).
  • the edema is age-related macular degeneration.
  • the age-related macular edema is substantially free of neovascularization.
  • the above mentioned subject suffers from early stages of diabetes.
  • the subject suffers from type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
  • the subject suffers from type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • the subject's vision is normal (he/she is asymptomatic i.e., does not suffer from symptoms associated with macular edema of vascular hyperpermeability such as spotted or blurry vision).
  • the subject does not suffer from substantial pericytes loss.
  • the subject has been diagnosed with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema.
  • the subject suffers from retinal swelling or retinal vascular hyperpermeability.
  • the subject is suffering from blood retinal barrier swelling.
  • the Sema3A antagonist is administered prior to the onset of substantial macular edema. In another embodiment, the Sema3A antagonist is administered prior to the onset of blurry or spotted vision. In another embodiment, the Sema3A antagonist is administered prior to VEGF inducement (i.e., prior to an increase in VEGF expression). In another embodiment, the Sema3A antagonist of the present invention is administered in combination with one or more other drugs used for the prevention and/or treatment of macular edema and/or diabetes.
  • Non-limiting examples of drugs used for the treatment of macular edema comprises bevacizumab (AvastinTM), Ranibuzimad (LucentisTM), aflibercept (EyleaTM) and corticosteroids.
  • the present invention also concern compositions comprising a Sema3a antagonist alone or in combination with one or more drugs used for the treatment of macular edema and diabetic retinopathy.
  • the invention relates to the use of Sema3A as a target in screening assays used to identify compounds that are useful for the prevention or treatment of retinal vascular hyperpermeability (e.g., non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema), said method comprising determining whether:
  • the above-mentioned method is an in vitro method.
  • the Sema3A activity is its binding to the Nrp-1 receptor.
  • the Sema3A activity is the increased vascular permeability.
  • FIG. 1 shows elevated Sema3A levels in the vitreous of human T1 DM patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy.
  • Wb Western blot
  • analysis revealed that both pro-( ⁇ 125 kDa) and active ( ⁇ 95 kDa) forms of Sema3A were robustly induced in patients affected by Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
  • Wb quantification ⁇ 125 kDa Sema3A signal was ⁇ 250-fold higher in DR relative to controls (p ⁇ 0.05); ⁇ 95 kDa Sema3A signal was ⁇ 175-fold in DR patients (p ⁇ 0.05).
  • OCT Optical Coherence Tomography
  • FIG. 2 shows that neuronal Sema3A is upregulated in the early phases of STZ-induced diabetes and its expression is geographically consistent with a role in macular edema.
  • STZ Streptozotocin
  • FIG. 3 shows that the retinal barrier function is compromised by Sema3A.
  • VP retinal vascular permeability
  • EB Evans Blue
  • FIG. 4 shows that targeted silencing of neuron-derived Sema3A and intravitreal neutralization of Sema3A efficiently reduce vascular permeability in T1 DM.
  • Lentiviral vectors with a VSVG capsid exhibit high tropism for RGCs and cells of the ONL when delivered intravitreally, as depicted by Lv vector carrying GFP RNA.
  • Lv.shRNA against Sema3A was used to specifically block Sema3A production in RGCs or neurons of the INL in vivo.
  • Neuropilin-1 is a single-pass receptor with its extracellular domain subdivided into distinct sub-domains of which a1a2 bind semaphorin and b1b2 bind VEGF.
  • FIG. 5 shows that conditional knockout of Nrp-1 prevents Sema3A-induced retinal barrier function breakdown.
  • Systemic administration of tamoxifen during a 5 day period effectively deleted Nrp-1 protein (a) and gene (b) expression.
  • FIG. 6 shows human Sema3A precursor protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:1). This sequence is further processed into mature form. Residues 1-20 correspond to the signal peptide;
  • FIG. 7 shows human soluble Neuropilin-1 (Nrp-1) receptor protein sequence (GenBank Acc. No. AAH07737.1-SEQ ID NO:2) and
  • FIG. 8 shows an alignment between rat (SEQ ID NO:15, Access. Nos. EDL96784, NP 659566), human (SEQ ID NO: 12, Accession No. NP_003864) and mouse (SEQ ID NO: 14, Accession No. ACCESSION NP_032763) Nrp-1 together with signal domain, Sema3a binding domains a1a2, VEGF binding domains b1b2, domain C, cytoplasmic domain and transmembrane domain.
  • DR diabetic retinopathy
  • Applicant provides the first evidence from both human and animal studies for the role of the classical neuronal guidance cue Semaphorin3A in instigating pathological macular vascular permeability in type I diabetes.
  • Semaphorin3A While classically associated with embryogenesis and neuronal and vascular patterning, investigation of the dynamics of expression reveal that Semaphorin3A is also induced in the early hyperglycemic phases of diabetes within the neuronal retina and precipitates initial breakdown of endothelial barrier function.
  • streptozotocin mouse model as a proxy for human diabetic retinopathy, Applicant demonstrates by a series of orthologous approaches (gene silencing or treatment with soluble Neuropilin-1 employed as a Semaphorin3A trap), that neutralization of Semaphorin3A efficiently prevents retinal vascular leakage.
  • the increase in permeability provoked by Semaphorin3A is mediated through its cognate receptor, Neuropilin-1.
  • Sema3A refers to Sema3A (e.g., HGNC: 10723; Entrez Gene: 10371; Ensembl: ENSG00000075213; OMIM: 603961; UniProtKB: Q14563;- FIG. 6 , SEQ ID NO:1) and its functional isoforms, and allelic/polymorphic variants.
  • Sema3A encodes a protein with an Ig-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain, a PSI domain and a Sema domain.
  • This secreted protein can function as either a chemorepulsive agent, inhibiting axonal outgrowth and neovascularization, or as a chemoattractive agent, stimulating the growth of apical dendrites. It is expressed in various tissues including stressed retinal ganglion neurons.
  • Sema3A-mediated cellular activity refers in general to the physiological or pathological events in which Sema3A has a substantial role.
  • Non-limiting examples of such activities include i) deterioration of the blood retinal barrier; ii) increased vascular permeability (i.e., hyperpermeability); iii) inhibition of VEGF-induced neovascularization at a hypoxic site (anti angiogenic effect); and modulation of axonal growth (e.g., inducement of growth cone collapse).
  • Sema3A binds to the Neuropilin-1 receptor (Nrp-1).
  • Neuropilin-1 receptor or “Nrp-1” receptor refers to neuropilin-1 and its isoforms, and allelic/polymorphic variants involved in Sema3A binding and signal transduction (e.g., HGNC: 8004; Entrez Gene: 8829; Ensembl: ENSG00000099250; OMIM: 602069; and UniProtKB: 014786; FIG. 7 , SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:12).
  • the basic structure of neuropilin-1 comprises 5 domains: three extracellular domains (a1a2, b1b2 and c), a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain (See FIG. 8 and SEQ ID NO:12).
  • the a1a2 (SEQ ID NO:13) domain is homologous to complement sedxw234weqqcomponents C1r and C1s (CUB) which generally contain 4 cysteine residues forming disulfide bridges. This domain binds Sema3A.
  • C1r and C1s C1s
  • “functional fragment” or “functional variant” refers to a molecule which retains the same activity as the original molecule but which differs by any modifications, and/or amino acid/nucleotide substitutions, deletions or additions (e.g., fusion with another polypeptide). Modifications can occur anywhere including the polypeptide/polynucleotide backbone (e.g., the amino acid sequence, the amino acid side chains and the amino or carboxy termini). Such substitutions, deletions or additions may involve one or more amino acids or in the case of polynucleotide, one or more nucleotide.
  • Functional fragments of the soluble Nrp-1 (SEQ ID NO:2) receptor include a fragment or a portion of a soluble Nrp-1 polypeptide (e.g., the a1a2 domain, SEQ ID NO:13) or a fragment or a portion of a homologue or allelic variant of a Nrp-1 which retains inhibiting activity, i.e., binds to Sema3A and inhibits the transduction of Sema3A-mediated cellular activity.
  • the Sema-3A-mediated cellular activity is vascular hyperpermeability.
  • the Npr-1 polypeptide is at least 80, 85, 88, 90, 95, 98 or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:2.
  • the Npr-1 polypeptide is at least 80, 85, 88, 90, 95, 98 or 99% identical to domains a1, a2, IA and/or b2 of Npr-1 as depicted in FIG. 8 .
  • the Npr-1 is a functional variant which includes variations in amino acids which are not conserved between rat, mouse and human Nrp-1 as depicted in FIG. 8 .
  • the Npr-1 polypeptide/polynucleotide or fragment thereof is human.
  • polypeptides and nucleic acids which are substantially identical to those noted herein may be utilized in the context of the present invention.
  • “Homology” and “homologous” refers to sequence similarity between two peptides or two nucleic acid molecules. Homology can be determined by comparing each position in the aligned sequences. A degree of homology between nucleic acid or between amino acid sequences is a function of the number of identical or matching nucleotides or amino acids at positions shared by the sequences. As the term is used herein, a nucleic acid/polynucleotide sequence is “homologous” to another sequence if the two sequences are substantially identical and the functional activity of the sequences is conserved (as used herein, the term ‘homologous’ does not infer evolutionary relatedness).
  • sequence similarity in optimally aligned substantially identical sequences may be at least 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% identical.
  • a given percentage of homology between sequences denotes the degree of sequence identity in optimally aligned sequences.
  • An “unrelated” or “non-homologous” sequence shares less than 40% identity, though preferably less than about 25% identity, with any of SEQ ID NOs 1-14.
  • Substantially complementary nucleic acids are nucleic acids in which the complement of one molecule is substantially identical to the other molecule. Two nucleic acid or protein sequences are considered substantially identical if, when optimally aligned, they share at least about 70% sequence identity. In alternative embodiments, sequence identity may for example be at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99%. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparisons of identity may be conducted using a variety of algorithms, such as the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, 1981, Adv. Appl. Math 2: 482, the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol.
  • Sequence identity may also be determined using the BLAST algorithm, described in Altschul et al., 1990, J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-10 (using the published default settings). Software for performing BLAST analysis may be available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (through the internet at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).
  • the BLAST algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence that either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighbourhood word score threshold.
  • Initial neighbourhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs.
  • the word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Extension of the word hits in each direction is halted when the following parameters are met: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached.
  • the BLAST algorithm parameters W, T and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment.
  • W word length
  • B BLOSUM62 scoring matrix
  • E expectation
  • P(N) the smallest sum probability
  • nucleotide or amino acid sequences are considered substantially identical if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test sequences is less than about 1, preferably less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.
  • hybridisation to filter-bound sequences under moderately stringent conditions may, for example, be performed in 0.5 M NaHPO4, 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65° C., and washing in 0.2 ⁇ SSC/0.1% SDS at 42° C. (see Ausubel, et al. (eds), 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, Green Publishing Associates, Inc., and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, at p. 2.10.3).
  • hybridization to filter-bound sequences under stringent conditions may, for example, be performed in 0.5 M NaHPO4, 7% SDS, 1 mM EDTA at 65° C., and washing in 0.1 ⁇ SSC/0.1% SDS at 68° C. (see Ausubel, et al. (eds), 1989, supra).
  • Hybridization conditions may be modified in accordance with known methods depending on the sequence of interest (see Tijssen, 1993, Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, Part I, Chapter 2 “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid probe assays”, Elsevier, New York).
  • stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C.
  • the Sema3A antagonist is an antisense/RNAi or shRNA that hybridizes to an Npr-1 nucleic acid sequence (preferably a human sequence).
  • treating or “treatment” in reference to macular edema and/or non-proliferative retinopathy is meant to refer to a reduction/improvement in one or more symptom of macular edema and/or non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy including but not limited to vision impairment (e.g., blind spots, spotty or blurry vision), retinal swelling, macular edema, vascular hyperpermeability; blood retinal barrier integrity, retinal thickening, pericytes loss and/or presence of circinate rings of hard exudates.
  • vision impairment e.g., blind spots, spotty or blurry vision
  • retinal swelling e.g., macular edema
  • vascular hyperpermeability vascular hyperpermeability
  • blood retinal barrier integrity e.g., retinal thickening
  • pericytes loss e.g., pericytes loss and/or presence of circinate rings of hard exudates.
  • preventing or “prevention” in reference to macular edema or vascular hypermeability is meant to refer to a reduction in the progression or a delayed onset of at least one of a vision impairment (e.g., blind spots, spotty or blurry vision), retinal swelling, macular edema, vascular swelling/leakage, blood retinal barrier integrity, retinal thickening, pericytes loss and/or presence of circinate rings of hard exudates.
  • a vision impairment e.g., blind spots, spotty or blurry vision
  • retinal swelling macular edema
  • vascular swelling/leakage vascular swelling/leakage
  • blood retinal barrier integrity e.g., retinal thickening
  • pericytes loss e.g., pericytes loss and/or presence of circinate rings of hard exudates.
  • vascular hyperpermeability refers to an abnormal increase of the permeability of blood vessels and/or capillaries compared to normal conditions e.g., in non-diabetic patients or patients not suffering from any form of macular edema or retinal swelling.
  • Vascular hyperpermeability may be acute (transient) or chronic.
  • vascular hyperpermeability fluid moves from the blood stream past the blood vessels walls, thereby forming an area of edema.
  • vascular hyperpermeability include swelling (e.g., retinal swelling) and abnormal leakage of the blood vessels including through the blood retinal barrier.
  • Sema3A inhibitor or “Sema3A antagonist” refers to an agent able to reduce or block Sema3A-mediated cell signaling.
  • Non-limiting examples include an agent which reduces or blocks the expression (transcription or translation) of Sema3A, an agent able to reduce or block Sema3A secretion or an agent able to reduce or block Sema3A binding to its receptor Nrp-1 and an agent which reduce or block (transcription or translation) of Npr-1.
  • the agent can be natural or synthetic and can be a protein/polypeptide such as but not limited to an antibody that specifically binds to Sema3A or Nrp-1 receptor; a soluble Nrp-1 polypeptide or fragment thereof, a peptide, a small molecule, a nucleotide such as but not limited to an antisense or a shRNA specific to Sema3A nucleic acid sequence encoding a Sema3A protein (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1) or Npr-1 nucleic acid sequence (Gene ID 8829 (human), Gene ID 18186 (mus musculus) or GeneID 246331 ( rattus Norvegicus ) encoding a Npr-1 protein (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2 or 12).
  • the agent is able to prevent Sema3A-mediated cell signaling without substantially reducing VEGF binding to the Nrp-1 receptor and thus VEGF-mediated cellular signaling.
  • the subject to which the Sema3A inhibitor of the present invention is administered suffers from diabetes.
  • the subject is at risk of suffering from diabetes.
  • the diabetes is Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
  • T1DM Type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • the subject has been diagnosed with macular edema or is at risk of suffering from macular edema.
  • the macular edema is diabetic macular edema.
  • the macular edema is diffuse macular edema.
  • the macular edema is focal macular edema.
  • the subject suffers from non-proliferative retinopathy (i.e., pathological neovascularization is absent or substantially low at the time the Sema3A inhibitor is administered).
  • the subject is suffering from early stage diabetes.
  • the subject has an increased blood glucose level compared to a healthy subject.
  • the subject does not suffer from a substantial loss of pericytes.
  • the diabetic subject suffers from retinal swelling.
  • the expression “early stage diabetes” or the like means that the subject is still at an early stage of diabetes e.g., stages 1-4, preferably, 1-3.
  • Stage 1 is characterized by compensation: insulin secretion increases to maintain normoglycemia in the face of insulin resistance and/or decreasing ⁇ -cell mass.
  • This stage is characterized by maintenance of differentiated function with intact acute glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS).
  • GSIS acute glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
  • Stage 2 occurs when glucose levels start to rise, reaching! 5.0-6.5 mmol/l; this is a stable state of ⁇ -cell adaptation with loss of ⁇ -cell mass and disruption of function as evidenced by diminished GSIS and ⁇ ⁇ -cell dedifferentiation.
  • Stage 3 is a transient unstable period of early decompensation in which glucose levels rise relatively rapidly to the frank diabetes of stage 4, which is characterized as stable decompensation with more severe ⁇ -cell dedifferentiation.
  • stage 5 is characterized by severe decompensation representing a profound reduction in ⁇ -cell mass with progression to ketosis. Movement across stages 1-4 can be in either direction. For example, individuals with treated type 2 diabetes can move from stage 4 to stage 1 or stage 2. For type 1 diabetes, as remission develops, progression from stage 4 to stage 2 is typically found (see Diabetes 53 (Suppl. 3):S16-S210, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety)
  • pharmaceutically acceptable carrier includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, physiological media, and the like that are physiologically compatible.
  • the carrier is suitable for ocular administration.
  • Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. The use of such media and agents, such as for ocular application, is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the compounds of the invention, use thereof in the compositions of the invention is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions.
  • the present invention concerns a therapeutic approach to the inhibition of vascular hyperpermeability and the formation of macular edema in subjects by administering a compound that specifically inhibit Sema3A-mediated cellular activity.
  • Sema3A-mediated cellular activity can be inhibited by a number of approaches. Inhibition of Sema3A cellular activity may be done directly by reducing Sema3A nucleic acid or protein expression or by inhibiting the binding of Sema3A to its associated receptor, Nrp-1. Inhibition of Sema3A activity may also be achieved indirectly by targeting one of Sema3A known downstream effectors (e.g., by targeting the Nrp-1 receptor) involved in Sema3A-induced vascular hyperpermeability.
  • Non-limiting examples of approaches for inhibiting Sema3A-mediated cellular activity include i) antibodies specific for Sema3A; ii) antibodies specific for Nrp-1 (i.e., competing with Sema3A binding to the receptor); ii) by antisense and RNAi methods for reducing Sema3A expression and iv) by providing a soluble Nrp-1 receptor or fragment thereof, acting as a functional Sema3A trap.
  • Sema3A cellular activity can be inhibited by using Sema3A antibodies.
  • these antibodies bind to the portion of Sema3A which interacts with its cognate receptor, Nrp-1, thereby preventing Sema3A-mediated cellular signaling 41 .
  • Nrp-1 antibodies directly targeting the Nrp-1 receptor which block the binding of Sema3A binding to Nrp-1 may also be used.
  • antibodies targeting Nrp-1 block Sema3A binding to the receptor but do not substantially interfere with VEGF binding to Nrp-1.
  • the Nrp-1 antibody binds to the a1a2 (A) domain of the Nrp-1 polypeptide.
  • Sema3A antibody refers to an antibody that specifically binds to (interacts with) a Sema3A protein and displays no substantial binding to other naturally occurring proteins other than the ones sharing the same antigenic determinants as the Sema3A protein.
  • Nrp-1 antibody refers to an antibody that specifically binds to (interacts with) a Nrp-1 protein and displays no substantial binding to other naturally occurring proteins other than the ones sharing the same antigenic determinants as the Nrp-1 protein.
  • Sema3A/Nrp-1 antibodies include polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized as well as chimeric antibodies.
  • antibody or immunoglobulin is used in the broadest sense, and covers monoclonal antibodies (including full length monoclonal antibodies), polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies and antibody fragments so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity.
  • Antibody fragments comprise a portion of a full length antibody, generally an antigen binding or variable region thereof. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, and Fv fragments, diabodies, linear antibodies, single-chain antibody molecules, single domain antibodies (e.g., from camelids), shark NAR single domain antibodies, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
  • Antibody fragments can also refer to binding moieties comprising CDRs or antigen binding domains including, but not limited to, VH regions (VH, VH-VH), anticalins, PepBodiesTM, antibody-T-cell epitope fusions (Troybodies) or Peptibodies.
  • Anti-human sem3A/Nrp-1 antibodies have been previously prepared 43 and are also commercially available from various sources including Santa Cruz.
  • soluble Nrp-1 receptor (UniprotKB/Swiss prot 014786, isoform 2) or a functional fragment thereof may be used to reduce Sema3A induced vascular hyperpermeability.
  • the soluble Nrp-1 receptor functional fragment is a fragment which binds to Sema3A but not to VEGF.
  • the functional fragment may comprise the a1a2 domain which binds to Sema3A but not to VEGF.
  • RNAi small hairpin shRNA
  • antisense antisense
  • ribozymes TAL effectors targeting the Sema3A promoter or the like.
  • shRNAs in cells can be obtained by delivery of plasmids or through viral (e.g., lentiviral vector) or bacterial vectors.
  • viral e.g., lentiviral vector
  • bacterial vectors e.g., bacterial vectors.
  • shRNAs which may be used in accordance with the present invention have the following sequences.
  • the invention provides antisense, shRNA molecules and ribozymes for exogenous administration to effect the degradation and/or inhibition of the translation of mRNA of interest.
  • the antisense, shRNA molecules and ribozymes target human Sema3A.
  • therapeutic antisense oligonucleotide applications include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,917, issued Aug. 4, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,890, issued Mar. 24, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,617, issued Feb. 11, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,195 issued Nov. 24, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,810, issued Apr. 2, 1991; U.S.
  • the target mRNA for antisense binding may include not only the information to encode a protein, but also associated ribonucleotides, which for example form the 5′-untranslated region, the 3′-untranslated region, the 5′ cap region and intron/exon junction ribonucleotides.
  • a method of screening for antisense and ribozyme nucleic acids that may be used to provide such molecules as Shc inhibitors of the invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,435.
  • Antisense molecules (oligonucleotides) of the invention may include those which contain intersugar backbone linkages such as phosphotriesters, methyl phosphonates, short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl intersugar linkages or short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic intersugar linkages, phosphorothioates and those with CH 2 —NH—O—CH 2 , CH 2 —N(CH 3 )—O—CH 2 (known as methylene(methylimino) or MMI backbone), CH 2 —O—N(CH 3 )—CH 2 , CH 2 —N(CH 3 )—N(CH 3 )—CH 2 and O—N(CH 3 )—CH 2 —CH 2 backbones (where phosphodiester is O—P—O—CH 2 ).
  • intersugar backbone linkages such as phosphotriesters, methyl phosphonates, short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl intersugar linkages or short chain heteroatomic or hetero
  • Oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures may also be used (U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506).
  • antisense oligonucleotides may have a peptide nucleic acid (PNA, sometimes referred to as “protein nucleic acid”) backbone, in which the phosphodiester backbone of the oligonucleotide may be replaced with a polyamide backbone wherein nucleosidic bases are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms or methylene groups in the polyamide backbone (Nielsen et al., 1991, Science 254:1497 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,082).
  • the phosphodiester bonds may be substituted with structures which are chiral and enantiomerically specific. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will be able to select other linkages for use in practice of the invention.
  • Oligonucleotides may also include species which include at least one modified nucleotide base.
  • purines and pyrimidines other than those normally found in nature may be used.
  • modifications on the pentofuranosyl portion of the nucleotide subunits may also be effected. Examples of such modifications are 2′-O-alkyl- and 2′-halogen-substituted nucleotides.
  • modifications at the 2′ position of sugar moieties which are useful in the present invention are OH, SH, SCH 3 , F, OCN, O(CH 2 ) n NH 2 or O(CH 2 ) n CH 3 where n is from 1 to about 10; C 1 to C 10 lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl or aralkyl; Cl; Br; CN; CF 3 ; OCF 3 ; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; SOCH 3 ; SO 2 CH 3 ; ONO 2 ; NO 2 ; N 3 ; NH 2 , heterocycloalkyl; heterocycloalkaryl; aminoalkylamino; polyalkylamino; substituted silyl; an RNA cleaving group; a reporter group; an intercalator; a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide; or a group for improving the pharmaco
  • the antisense oligonucleotides in accordance with this invention may comprise from about 5 to about 100 nucleotide units.
  • a nucleotide unit is a base-sugar combination (or a combination of analogous structures) suitably bound to an adjacent nucleotide unit through phosphodiester or other bonds forming a backbone structure.
  • RNAi RNA interference
  • RNAi may be used to create a pseudo “knockout”, i.e. a system in which the expression of the product encoded by a gene or coding region of interest is reduced, resulting in an overall reduction of the activity of the encoded product in a system.
  • RNAi may be performed to target a nucleic acid of interest or fragment or variant thereof, to in turn reduce its expression and the level of activity of the product which it encodes.
  • RNAi is described in for example published US patent applications 20020173478 (Gewirtz; published Nov. 21, 2002) and 20020132788 (Lewis et al.; published Nov. 7, 2002). Reagents and kits for performing RNAi are available commercially from for example Ambion Inc. (Austin, Tex., USA) and New England Biolabs Inc. (Beverly, Mass., USA).
  • RNAi The initial agent for RNAi in some systems is a dsRNA molecule corresponding to a target nucleic acid.
  • the dsRNA e.g., shRNA
  • shRNA short interfering RNAs
  • siRNAs short interfering RNAs
  • the enzyme thought to effect this first cleavage step has been referred to as “Dicer” and is categorized as a member of the RNase III family of dsRNA-specific ribonucleases.
  • RNAi may be effected via directly introducing into the cell, or generating within the cell by introducing into the cell a suitable precursor (e.g. vector encoding precursor(s), etc.) of such an siRNA or siRNA-like molecule.
  • An siRNA may then associate with other intracellular components to form an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).
  • RISC RNA-induced silencing complex
  • the RISC thus formed may subsequently target a transcript of interest via base-pairing interactions between its siRNA component and the target transcript by virtue of homology, resulting in the cleavage of the target transcript approximately 12 nucleotides from the 3′ end of the siRNA.
  • RISC RNA-induced silencing complex
  • RNAi may be effected by the introduction of suitable in vitro synthesized siRNA (shRNAs) or siRNA-like molecules into cells. RNAi may for example be performed using chemically-synthesized RNA. Alternatively, suitable expression vectors may be used to transcribe such RNA either in vitro or in vivo. In vitro transcription of sense and antisense strands (encoded by sequences present on the same vector or on separate vectors) may be effected using for example T7 RNA polymerase, in which case the vector may comprise a suitable coding sequence operably-linked to a T7 promoter. The in vitro-transcribed RNA may in embodiments be processed (e.g. using E.
  • RNA duplex which is introduced into a target cell of interest.
  • Other vectors may be used, which express small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) which can be processed into siRNA-like molecules.
  • shRNAs small hairpin RNAs
  • Various vector-based methods and various methods for introducing such vectors into cells, either in vitro or in vivo (e.g. gene therapy) are known in the art.
  • expression of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of interest may be inhibited by introducing into or generating within a cell an siRNA or siRNA-like molecule corresponding to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of interest (e.g. myostatin), or a fragment thereof, or to an nucleic acid homologous thereto.
  • siRNA-like molecule refers to a nucleic acid molecule similar to an siRNA (e.g. in size and structure) and capable of eliciting siRNA activity, i.e. to effect the RNAi-mediated inhibition of expression.
  • such a method may entail the direct administration of the siRNA or siRNA-like molecule into a cell, or use of the vector-based methods described above.
  • the siRNA or siRNA-like molecule is less than about 30 nucleotides in length.
  • the siRNA or siRNA-like molecule is about 21-23 nucleotides in length.
  • siRNA or siRNA-like molecule comprises a 19-21 bp duplex portion, each strand having a 2 nucleotide 3′ overhang.
  • the siRNA or siRNA-like molecule is substantially identical to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of interest, or a fragment or variant (or a fragment of a variant) thereof.
  • a variant is capable of encoding a protein having activity similar to the polypeptide of interest.
  • a variety of viral vectors can be used to obtain shRNA/RNAi expression in cells including adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), adenoviruses, and lentiviruses.
  • AAVs adeno-associated viruses
  • adenoviruses the genomes remain episomal. This is advantageous as insertional mutagenesis is avoided. It is disadvantageous in that the progeny of the cell will lose the virus quickly through cell division unless the cell divides very slowly.
  • AAVs differ from adenoviruses in that the viral genes have been removed and they have diminished packing capacity.
  • Lentiviruses integrate into sections of transcriptionally active chromatin and are thus passed on to progeny cells. With this approach there is increased risk of insertional mutagenesis; however, the risk can be reduced by using an integrase-deficient lentivirus.
  • the Sema3A inhibitors of the present invention can be administered to a human subject by themselves or in pharmaceutical compositions where they are mixed with suitable carriers or excipient(s) at doses to treat or prevent vascular hyperpermeabilty, non-proliferative retinopathy, retinal swelling or macular edema and associated symptoms. Mixtures of these compounds can also be administered to the subject as a simple mixture or in suitable formulated pharmaceutical compositions.
  • a therapeutically effective dose further refers to that amount of the compound or compounds sufficient to result in the prevention or treatment of macular edema and/or associated symptoms (spotted or blurry vision, Sema3A-associated hyperpermeability, edema, retinal swelling, and/or blood retinal barrier leakage).
  • Techniques for formulation and administration of the compounds of the instant application may be found in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences,” Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., latest edition.
  • Suitable routes of administration may, for example, include systemic, oral and ocular (eye drops or intraocular injections). Preferred routes of administration comprise eye drops and intraocular injections.
  • the formulations may also be in the form of sustained release formulations.
  • compositions for use in accordance with the present invention thus may be formulated in a conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries which facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations which can be used pharmaceutically. Proper formulation is dependent upon the route of administration chosen.
  • the agents of the invention may be formulated in aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks's solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer.
  • the compounds can be formulated readily by combining the active compounds with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers suitable for ocular administration well known in the art.
  • the compounds may be formulated for ocular administration e.g., eye drops or ocular injections bolus injection.
  • Formulations for injection may be presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in ampoules or in multi-dose containers, with an added preservative.
  • the compositions may take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents.
  • Liposomes and emulsions are well known examples of delivery vehicles or carriers for hydrophobic drugs.
  • compositions suitable for use in the present invention include compositions wherein the active ingredients are contained in an effective amount to achieve its intended purpose. More specifically, a therapeutically effective amount means an amount effective to prevent development of or to alleviate the existing symptoms of the subject being treated. Determination of the effective amounts is well within the capability of those skilled in the art.
  • the effective dose of the compound inhibits the cellular signaling function of Sema3A sufficiently to reduce or prevent vascular hyperpermeability and blood retinal barrier leakage without causing significant adverse effects.
  • Certain compounds which have such activity can be identified by in vitro assays that determine the dose-dependent inhibition of Sema3A inhibitors.
  • the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from cellular assays.
  • a dose can be formulated in cellular and animal models to achieve a circulating concentration range that includes the 1050 as determined in cellular assays (i e., the concentration of the test compound which achieves a half-maximal inhibition of the cellular signaling function of Sema3A, usually in response to inflammatory mediators such as II-1 ⁇ or other activating stimulus such as hypoxia, ischemia, cellular stress, ER stress.
  • a therapeutically effective amount refers to that amount of the compound that results in amelioration of symptoms in a subject.
  • a prophylactically effective amount refers to the amount necessary to prevent or delay symptoms in a patient (e.g., Sema3A-induced vascular hyperpermeability, spotted and/or blurry vision, pericytes loss, macular edema, retinal swelling, blood retinal barrier leakage, etc.).
  • Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., determining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the ED (effective dose for 50% maximal response).
  • the dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio between MTD and ED50.
  • Compounds which exhibit high therapeutic indices are preferred. The exact formulation, route of administration and dosage can be chosen by the individual physician in view of the patient's condition.
  • Dosage amount and interval may be adjusted individually to provide levels of the active compound which are sufficient to maintain the Sema3A modulating effects, or minimal effective concentration (MEC).
  • MEC minimal effective concentration
  • the MEC will vary for each compound but can be estimated from in vitro data; e. g. the concentration necessary to achieve substantial inhibition of Sema3A expression or activity (e.g., binding to Nrp-1 receptor) Dosages necessary to achieve the MEC will depend on individual characteristics and route of administration.
  • composition administered will, of course, be dependent on the subject being treated, on the subject's weight, the severity of the affliction, the manner of administration and the judgment of the prescribing physician.
  • compositions may, if desired, be presented in a pack or dispenser device which may contain one or more unit dosage forms containing the active ingredient.
  • the pack or dispenser device may be accompanied by instructions for administration.
  • Compositions comprising a compound of the invention formulated in a compatible pharmaceutical carrier may also be prepared, placed in an appropriate container, and labeled for treatment of an indicated condition. Suitable conditions indicated on the label may include the prevention and treatment of macular edema such as diabetic macular edema and age-related macular edema, retinal vascular hyperpermeability, blood retinal barrier leakage or the like.
  • the invention relates to the use of Sema3A as a target in screening assays used to identify compounds that are useful for the prevention or treatment retinal vascular hyperpermeability (e.g., non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, retinal swelling, etc.), said method comprising determining whether:
  • the above-mentioned method is an in vitro method.
  • the Sema3A activity is its binding to the Nrp-1 receptor.
  • the Sema3A activity is the increased vascular permeability.
  • a reporter assay-based method of selecting agents which modulate Sema3A expression includes providing a cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising a Sema3A transcriptional regulatory sequence operably-linked to a suitable reporter gene. The cell is then exposed to the agent suspected of affecting Sema3A expression (e.g., a test/candidate compound) and the transcription efficiency is measured by the activity of the reporter gene. The activity can then be compared to the activity of the reporter gene in cells unexposed to the agent in question.
  • Suitable reporter genes include but are not limited to beta( ⁇ )-D-galactosidase, luciferase, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP).
  • the present invention further provides a method of identifying or characterizing a compound for treating or preventing retinal vascular hyperpermeability, the method comprising: (a) contacting a test compound with a cell comprising a first nucleic acid comprising a transcriptionally regulatory element normally associated with a Sema3A gene (e.g., a promoter region naturally associated with a Sema3A gene), operably linked to a second nucleic acid comprising a reporter gene capable of encoding a reporter protein; and (b) determining whether reporter gene expression or reporter protein activity is decreased in the presence of said test compound, said decrease in reporter gene expression or reporter protein activity being an indication that said test compound may be used for treating or preventing retinal vascular hyperpermeability (such as retinal swelling in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema).
  • the above-mentioned method is an in vitro method.
  • the above-noted assays may be applied to a single test compound or to a plurality or “library” of such compounds (e.g., a combinatorial library). Any such compound may be utilized as lead compound and further modified to improve its therapeutic, prophylactic and/or pharmacological properties for the prevention and treatment of obesity and/or obesity-related hypertension.
  • Such assay systems may comprise a variety of means to enable and optimize useful assay conditions.
  • Such means may include but are not limited to: suitable buffer solutions, for example, for the control of pH and ionic strength and to provide any necessary components for optimal Sema3A activity and stability (e.g., protease inhibitors), temperature control means for optimal Sema3A activity and or stability, and detection means to enable the detection of the Sema3A and Nrp-1 interaction.
  • a variety of such detection means may be used, including but not limited to one or a combination of the following: radiolabelling (e.g., 32 P, 14 C, 3 H), antibody-based detection, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, spectroscopic methods (e.g., generation of a product with altered spectroscopic properties), various reporter enzymes or proteins (e.g., horseradish peroxidase, green fluorescent protein), specific binding reagents (e.g., biotin/streptavidin), and others.
  • radiolabelling e.g., 32 P, 14 C, 3 H
  • antibody-based detection e.g., fluorescence, chemiluminescence
  • spectroscopic methods e.g., generation of a product with altered spectroscopic properties
  • reporter enzymes or proteins e.g., horseradish peroxidase, green fluorescent protein
  • specific binding reagents e.g., biotin/streptavidin
  • the assay may be carried out in vitro utilizing a source of Sema3A which may comprise naturally isolated or recombinantly produced Sema3A, in preparations ranging from crude to pure.
  • Recombinant Sema3A may be produced in a number of prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression systems, which are well known in the art (see for example Martin F. et al., 2001 . Immunogenetics 53(4): 296-306) for the recombinant expression of Sema3A.
  • Such assays may be performed in an array format. In certain embodiments, one or a plurality of the assay steps are automated.
  • a homolog, variant and/or fragment of Sema3A which retains activity may also be used in the screening methods of the invention.
  • Homologues include protein sequences, which are substantially identical to the amino acid sequence of full length Sema3A (e.g., FIG. 1 ), or matured fragment, sharing significant structural and functional homology with Sema3A.
  • Variants include, but are not limited to, proteins or peptides, which differ from a Sema3A by any modifications, and/or amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions (e.g., fusion with another polypeptide).
  • Modifications can occur anywhere including the polypeptide backbone, (i.e., the amino acid sequence), the amino acid side chains and the amino or carboxy termini. Such substitutions, deletions or additions may involve one or more amino acids. Fragments include a fragment or a portion of a Sema3A or a fragment or a portion of a homologue or variant of a Sema3A which retains Sema3A activity, i.e., binds to the Nrp-1 receptor and causes vascular hyperpermeabilisation.
  • mice of 6- to 7-week were weighted and their baseline glycemia was measured (Accu-Chek, Roche).
  • Mice were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (Sigma-Alderich, St. Louis, Mo.) for 5 consecutive days at 55 mg/Kg.
  • streptozotocin Sigma-Alderich, St. Louis, Mo.
  • Age-matched controls were injected with buffer only.
  • Glycemia was measured again a week after the last STZ injection and mice were considered diabetic if their non-fasted glycemia was higher than 17 mM (300 mg/dL).
  • Eyes were enucleated from P14 pups in OIR (oxygen induced retinopathy) or normoxic littermates and flash-frozen in OCT. We then cut 12 ⁇ m sections using a Leica cryostat at ⁇ 20° C. and air-dried for 10 min. We dissected retinal layers using a Zeiss Observer microscope equipped with a Palm MicroBeamTM device for laser-capture microdissection. We isolated mRNA from these sections and performed qPCRs as described above.
  • OIR oxygen induced retinopathy
  • Antibodies used for Western-blotting are: Nrp-1 (R&D Systems, #AF566), pVE-Cadherin (Invitrogen, #441145G), Src (Cell Signaling, #2108), pSRC (Cell Signaling, #2101), FAK (Cell Signaling, #3285), pFAK (Cell Signaling, #3281), b-Actin (Sigma, #A2228), Sema3A (Santa Cruz, #sc-1148 OR ABCAM #ab23393).
  • mice were enucleated from mice and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde at room temperature for 4 h at RT and incubated in 30% sucrose overnight and then frozen in OCT compound.
  • Antibodies used for immunohistochemistry are: Sema3A (ABCAM #ab23393), Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) (ABMCA, #ab7817) and ⁇ III-tubulin (ECM).
  • Secondary antibodies are Alexa 594 (Invitrogen, #A11005) and Alexa 488 (Invitrogen, #A11008).
  • pan-retinal vasculature flatmount retinas were stained with stained with fluoresceinated Isolectin B4 (Alexa Fluor 594-I21413, Molecular Probes) in 1 mM CaCl 2 in PBS for retinal vasculature.
  • fluoresceinated Isolectin B4 Alexa Fluor 594-I21413, Molecular Probes
  • CaCl 2 CaCl 2 in PBS for retinal vasculature.
  • vascular permeability see Evans Blue—EB—permeation
  • lentiviral vectors by transfecting lentivector and packaging vectors into HEK293T cells (Invitrogen) as previously described 40 .
  • Viral supernatants were concentrated by ultra-centrifugation (>500-fold) and titers determined by ELISA for viral p24 antigen using a commercial kit (Clonetech).
  • STZ treated diabetic C57BL/6J mice were intravitreally injected with rmNRP1 from plasmid (Mamluk et al., 2002 17 ) or R&D Systems at 6 and 7 weeks after STZ administration.
  • Specific mouse anti-VEGF was purchased from R&D Systems (AF-493-NA) and 1 ⁇ l was injected at 80 ug/mL.
  • Retinal Evans blue permeation assay was performed at 8 weeks after STZ treatment as described above.
  • Sema3A is Elevated in the Vitreous of Human Patients Suffering from Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Optical Coherence Tomography was performed and three-dimensional (3D) maps were generated to evaluate the extent of retinal damage and edema.
  • OCT Optical Coherence Tomography
  • 3D maps were generated to evaluate the extent of retinal damage and edema.
  • FIG. 1 e Detailed DME patient characteristics are presented in FIG. 1 e.
  • Neuronal Sema3A is Upregulated in the Early Phases of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes
  • T1DM type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • VEGF levels in STZ-treated mice remained at similar levels to that observed in vehicle treated congener mice as has been previously described 24 ( FIG. 2 b ).
  • STZ-treated mice showed pathologically elevated blood glucose levels of ⁇ 30 mM ( FIG. 2 d ; p ⁇ 0.0001 for both 8 and 4 weeks of diabetes).
  • the rise in expression of Sema3A was an early event and preceded pericyte loss as both STZ and vehicle-treated mice showed similar levels of smooth muscle actin (SMA, FIG. 2 c ).
  • SMA smooth muscle actin
  • FIG. 2 c expression levels of the tight junction components occludin and claudin-5 varied minimally at the early time of 8 weeks ( FIG.
  • Pdgfr-b platelet-derived growth factor receptor-b
  • the Expression Pattern of Sema3A is Geographically Consistent with a Role in Diabetic Retinopathy
  • FIG. 3 b depicts confocal images of retinal sections injected with vehicle, VEGF and Sema3A, showing the representative increased pattern of EB leakage.
  • VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
  • Sema3A vascular endothelial barrier function
  • Applicant carried out real-time analysis of trans-endothelial electric resistance. Treatment of an intact endothelial monolayer with Sema3A reduced barrier function in a magnitude similar, yet lower than VEGF in the first 6 hours following addition ( FIG. 3 c ).
  • Sema3A activated signaling pathways known to promote vascular permeability.
  • Applicant investigated, by Western blot analysis, the activation profiles of Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) known to transduce extracellular signals that provoke the loosening of endothelial cell tight junctions 25-28 .
  • Stimulation of Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HRMECs) by either Sema3A or VEGF lead to robust phosphorylation of Src at Tyr416 in the activation loop of the kinase domain which is reported to enhance enzyme activity 29 .
  • HRMECs Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells
  • Lv vectors carrying a shRNA against Sema3A were generated (TTATTTATAGGAAACACTGGG-SEQ ID NO:11). These Lv vectors with a VSVG capsid exhibit high tropism for RGCs and cells of the ONL when delivered intravitreallyl 14,35 ( FIG. 4 a ).
  • Nrp-1 recombinant(r) soluble Nrp-1 as a bivalent trap for both Sema3A and VEGF.
  • Neuropilin-1 is a single-pass receptor with its extracellular domain subdivided into distinct sub-domains of which a1a2 binds semaphorin and b1b2 binds VEGF 36 ( FIG. 4 e ).
  • Intravitreal injection of rNrp-1 in STZ mice at week 6 and 7 after induction of diabetes lead to a 48.1% reduction in retinal permeability measured at week 8 of diabetes ( FIG.
  • Nrp-1 Prevents Sema3A-Induced Retinal Barrier Function Breakdown
  • Nrp-1 being the receptor for Sema3A
  • Applicant sought to determine whether knockout of Nrp-1 protects against Sema3A-induced vascular permeability. Because systemic germline deletion of Nrp-1 is embryonic lethal 37-39 , a whole-animal tamoxifen-inducible (Tam-inducible) Cre mouse (Tg Cre-Esr1 ) was generated to induce Nrp-1 exon 2 deletion. To validate Cre recombination at the Nrp-1 locus and confirm disruption of Nrp-1 in vivo, Tg Cre-Esr1 ; Nrp1 fl/fl mice (iKO) and littermates were administered Tam or vehicle (Veh) at 6 weeks of age.
  • Tam-inducible Cre mouse To validate Cre recombination at the Nrp-1 locus and confirm disruption of Nrp-1 in vivo, Tg Cre-Esr1 ; Nrp1 fl/fl mice (iKO) and littermates were administered Tam or vehicle (Veh

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